Johor Bahru Iskandar Malaysia tail

Causeway Scrabble Challenge 2010

The Causeway Scrabble Challenge

The Causeway Challenge seems to get bigger and better each year. In response to the enthusiastic response to last year's expansion of the open section to 45 rounds (as many as the premier section), the format will be continued this year, but with every expectation that the applications will be as numerous as last year, there will be three sections in all, Premier, Masters and Open.

Here are the details, as announced by the tournament organiser, Michael Tang.

PREMIER PRIZE MONEY
1st: US$30 000
2nd: US$15 000
3rd: US$7 000
4th: US$3 000
5th: US$2 000
6th: US$1 000
7th: US$900
8th: US$800
9th: US$700
10th: US$600
TOTAL US$61,000
MASTERS PRIZE MONEY
1st: US$5 000
2nd: US$2 500
3rd: US$1 000
4th: US$800
5th: US$700
6th: US$600
7th: US$500
8th: US$400
9th: US$300
10th: US$200
TOTAL US$12 000
OPEN PRIZE MONEY
1st: US$1000
2nd: US$500
3rd: US$400
4th: US$300
5th: US$200
6th: US$200
7th: US$100
8th: US$100
TOTAL US$2 800

Premier entry fee

US$300

Masters entry fee

US$120

Open entry fee

US$60

Premier selection

By invitation only. Michael Tang selects the teams with the advice of WESPA and national organisations. 50 of the top players around the world play as teams of five in a prearranged schedule (thus 45 rounds for the competition). The 10 teams are: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, Thailand, UK, USA, Causeway Team A, Causeway Team B, Causeway Team C

The winner of 8th Causeway Scrabble Challenge Open Division, Michael Akonor from Ghana, will be invited to be part of a Causeway Team. The top rated player of Malaysia and the top rated player of Singapore will also be invited to a Causeway Team.

The qualification for the players for Causeway Teams will be based on both WESPA and local ratings and the cut-off dates will be *31 October 2010*. Players must play a *minimum* of* 60* tournament games in 2010 to be eligible to be invited to Causeway Team.

Should one of the 7 countries finish in last position, the country will be relegated and there will be 4 Causeway Teams for 2011.

Masters selection

By application. The minimum qualification criteria will be a WESPA rating of 1600 and above.

Open Section

By application. This is open to players with a WESPA rating below 1600.

Premier rules

Word Authority: Collins 2007
WESPA Rules with 10 point penalty for each word challenged which is actually allowable

Masters rules

Word Authority: Collins 2007
WESPA Rules with 5 point penalty for each word challenged which is actually allowable

Open rules

Word Authority: Collins 2007
WESPA Rules with 5 point penalty for each word challenged which is actually allowable